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Monday, June 4, 2007

The Dawn of Big Solar?

Utility-scale solar farms seem to be making the news more and more. Just yesterday, Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ) announced that it has begin delivering solar modules to City Solar AG for the construction of 7 different large-scale solar farms in Spain and Germany totaling a solar capacity of 31 MW in all.

An article in Business 2.0 provides a great overview on the state of large-scale solar, the major players, and the evolving economics and technologies that make it increasingly attractive.

But query if such solar farms nullify one of the main advantages of renewable energy--that of an off-grid and autonomous source of distributed power. Utility-scale power just puts electricity production back in the hands of big companies (which are the only ones that can afford the huge capital outlay of a large-scale solar farm), increasing their political clout because they control such a vital resource, and setting them down the path of Big Oil and Big Coal...would love to hear thoughts of anyone out there...

the solar coaster operator

Julian Wong is a Fulbright Scholar in Beijing, engaging in independent research on renewable energy policy and entrepreneurship in China. Until recently, Julian Wong was a corporate attorney in New York City and Hong Kong and a sitting member of the Energy Committee of the New York City Bar Association. He obtained a B.A. in Biology from Pomona College, M.A. in Environmental Policy from Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, and J.D. from Duke Law School. He is also author of a blog on green initiatives in China called The Green Leap Forward at www.greenleapforward.com